Plasmodium lionatum
Plasmodium lionatum is a species of apicomplexan parasite in the family Plasmodiidae. Like all Plasmodium species P. lionatum has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are lizards.
| Plasmodium lionatum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| (unranked): | Diaphoretickes |
| Clade: | TSAR |
| Clade: | SAR |
| Infrakingdom: | Alveolata |
| Phylum: | Apicomplexa |
| Class: | Aconoidasida |
| Order: | Haemospororida |
| Family: | Plasmodiidae |
| Genus: | Plasmodium |
| Species: | P. lionatum |
| Binomial name | |
| Plasmodium lionatum Telford, 1982 | |
Description
The parasite was first described by Telford in 1982.[1]
The asexual stages rarely disturb the host cell. The gametocytes may distort the cell or displace the nucleus.
Mature schizonts are 4.0 - 6.0 micrometres x 1.5 - 3.0 micrometres in size and give rise to 4-6 merozoites. Schizonts tend to lie lateral to the nucleus.
The mature gametocytes vary in size: 5.0 - 12.0 x 2.0 - 6.0 micrometres and tend to be elongated in shape.
Distribution
This species is found in Thailand.
Hosts
The only known host is the flying gecko (Ptychozoon lionatum Also they infect The Eastern Screech owl
References
- SR. Telford, Jr. (1982) Plasmodium lionatum sp. n., a Parasite of the Flying Gecko, Ptychozoon lionatum, in Thailand. J. Parasitol. 68(6) 1154-1157
Further reading
Telford, Sam (December 1982). "Plasmodium lionatum sp. n., a parasite of the flying gecko, Ptychozoon lionatum, in Thailand". The Journal of Parasitology. 68 (6): 1154–1157. doi:10.2307/3281110.